A mouth examination can reveal problems in other parts of the patient’s body. Because many diseases manifest in soft tissues of the mouth or cause pain in the jaw, dentists often refer patients to their medical doctor for further diagnosis when they encounter issues such as inflammation, chronic bad breath, bleeding gums, or jaw pain.

Healthcare providers may soon have another oral diagnostic tool for discovering systemic diseases—a test that assesses the molecules in saliva.

“UCLA researchers are working on a test that could have the ability to diagnose diseases like diabetes and cancer. It’s conceivable that dentists will soon be able to take saliva samples that can be tested for numerous diseases. And if that happens, disease diagnosis will be much simpler for all parties.”1

At Jeff Gray DDS, we understand how the state of your dental health impacts the rest of your body. You can think of us as a key member of your healthcare team, and dedicated to your overall health and well-being.

At Jeff Gray DDS in La Mesa, our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment with us today.

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Patients from all over California and the United States come to award winning La Mesa dentistry at Jeff Gray DDS for exceptional cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, Invisalign braces, sedation dentistry and so much more. San Diego dentists Dr. Jeff Gray and Dr. Greg Hurtado practice in La Mesa and serve the greater San Diego area including Chula Vista, Santee, Lakeside, and zip codes 92020, 91942, 92019, and 91941.